Album Review: Jessica Sanchez’s “Me, You & The Music”

Jessica Sanchez is proving herself to be quite the chameleon! Fresh from her re-launch on American Idol (where she performed her lead single, “Tonight” with Ne-Yo) and current appearance on Glee (as Frida Romero of the Hoosierdaddies, one of New Directions’ competitors at Regionals), the emerging young singer experiments with new sounds on her just-released debut album, Me, You & the Music.

She showcases her diverse musicality with a selection of different styles within the realm of Pop, R&B, Urban, and Dance – also throwing in a bit of reggae (“Don’t Come Around”, which samples Tom Petty‘s “Don’t Come Around Here Anymore”) and Spanglish (“No One Compares”, a duet with Prince Royce) into the mix. Fans will appreciate and adore her sweet ballads about holding onto and lamenting over love (“Crazy Glue“, “Plastic Roses”), but it is her upbeat and catchy mid- and up-tempo tracks (“In Your Hands”, “You’ve Got The Love”, and my personal favourite, the hip and addictive “Drive By“) that are the surefire stand-outs. Two of the most memorable tracks are the ones that kick off and close out the show: the commanding techno groove “Right To Fall” (a song about fighting for the right to love who you want to love) and the punchy and sassy “Gentlemen” (an anthem for the ladies who demand to be treated with respect they deserve – where have all the good men gone / without a lady you would’ve never been born).

Me, You & the Music is a invitation to catch a glimpse of what Miss. Sanchez has to offer musically – which is a very youthful, fun, and energetic contemporary R&B/Pop vibe that’s guaranteed to make her a force to be reckoned with!

Download Me, You & the Music on iTunes, and catch Jessica on the Glee finale airing May 9th!

Kree Harrison Brings The Blues To American Idol

The fire in Kree Harrison is burning brighter than ever before!

Personally, I felt that Top 4 Week (Free Choice/One Hit Wonder) was her best week on American Idol thus far. I absolutely loved how Kree tapped into her bluesy side with Susan Tedeschi‘s “It Hurt So Bad”. Like with her Top 10 Victory Performance of Tedeschi’s “Evidence“, she was right in her element and it was all so awesome to see (and hear) unleash with a fine mix of grittiness and naturalness. “It Hurt So Bad” was her best vocal to date, and more importantly, it was also the performance that is most quintessentially true to her artistic styling of rootsy-bluesy-soulful country.

I was also happy that Kree chose to sing Procol Harum‘s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (from 1967) for her second performance. The easy breezy Summer of Love anthem one of my favourite classic recordings to sit back and listen to – it has a groovy, timeless, and unforgettable vibe to it that I just adore, and Kree did such a wonderful and effortless job singing it!

I respect how she always chooses songs that evoke special memories and feelings to her. It’s very apparent that she’s a massive appreciator of music of all genres (she even cites Percy Sledge‘s rendition as the inspiration behind her song choice). It’s always risky to pick songs that aren’t so familiar to the Idol audience, but she manages to make it work every time. There’s something so genuine and sincere about Kree that makes me gravitate towards her and her gorgeous voice. When she sings, she means every word, and consequently, I believe every word.

Cheers To You… Girls of American Idol

Who run the world? IDOL GIRLS!

My American Idol dream is finally coming true! For the first time in the show’s history, there are five females in the Top 5, which means…

A GIRL WILL WIN AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 12!

Continue reading “Cheers To You… Girls of American Idol”

Candice Glover Slays “Lovesong” On American Idol

Let us accept Candice Glover for who she really is – a superstar!

This week, the Top 6 on American Idol were invited to sing a song they wish they had written, which allowed for the contestants to show the world who they are as artists.

Accepting the challenge, Miss Candice, who has been the most consistent performer to date, completely pulverized the night with a powerful and passionate performance of The Cure’s “Lovesong” (which was also covered by Adele).

It was captivating, exquisite, and best of all, a showcase of Candice’s uniquely mature musicianship and inventively jazzy artistry. Her rendition made me cry and rewarded her with standing ovations from the entire studio audience (you could feel the energy from the television set – amazing!) “Lovesong” was the first true moment of this season and one of the best performances across all of the seasons (and so deserving of Mariah Carey’s glitterbomb blessing!).

Keep on slaying, Candice!

Jessica Sanchez and Ne-Yo’s “Tonight”

Diva-in-training Jessica Sanchez is about to launch into stardom!

The American Idol Season 11 runner-up returned to the stage that started it all to share the story of her journey since last May’s finale – and what a ride it has been!

From experiences with international tours, performing at special events, and modelling, to an upcoming guest appearance on Glee, the frontier is looking real bright for Sanchez.

Her first single, “Tonight”, which features R&B musician, Ne-Yo, is a fun, fresh, funky, and fabulous dance track about escaping from the stresses and drama of everyday life.

The duo debuted the live performance of the song on Idol, and Sanchez unleashed her BB Chez alter-ego by singing and dancing it up a storm like a dynamo.

If her re-introduction is any indication, Sanchez’s career as a young R&B/Urban artist is going be astronomical!

Jessica Sanchez’s debut album, “Me, You & The Music” will be released on April 30th and is currently available for pre-order on iTunes, Amazon, and JessicaSanchezOfficial.com.

We about to hop up on this rocket
Get up outta here
Go somewhere where nothing ever goes wrong
About to hop up on this rocket
Take to the sky
everything is fly